Milwaukee is chock full of things to do, but only a handful of Milwaukee events are worthy of the lofty honor of “Record Recommended” (patent pending). Here are our recommendations—brought to you by Lilliput Records—for September 9-15, 2024.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
Avril Lavigne + Simple Plan, Girlfriends @ American Family Insurance Amphitheater
We don’t want to go and make things so complicated, so we’ll just state it clearly and concisely: Avril Lavigne will headline AmFam Amphitheater tonight as part of the accomplished singer’s “Greatest Hits Tour.” Simple Plan and Girlfriends will play in support. Fun!
Dale Hollow + Wire And Nail @ Cactus Club
“A bit Andy Kaufman, a little Orville Peck, a hint of Father John Misty, Dale Hollow possesses ‘a fascinating combination of performance and purveyed authenticity,’ as the lifestyle magazine Mundane once posited, while also noting that ‘no other country music artist has ever claimed to be the best, except for Dale Hollow.'”
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
WMSE’s Local/Live: Graham Hunt @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
“After a busy summer, WMSE is excited to invite you back to Anodyne in Walker’s Point on Tuesday, September 10, (6 p.m.) for another free, all-ages edition of Local/Live, with Graham Hunt! If you know how to work the angles, you can fit a lot into the container of a three- or four-minute pop song. Graham Hunt understands this. Since he was a teenager, he’s been working at perfecting the form, writing songs that get to the heart of what makes Midwestern guitar pop so essential, and doing it while sidestepping any of the dead-end creative moves that weigh down many in the genre.”
Deer Tick @ Vivarium
“Emotional Contracts, the latest full-length album from Deer Tick, catalogs all the existential casualties that accompany the passing of time, instilling each song with the irresistibly reckless spirit that’s defined the band for nearly two decades. Before heading into the studio with producer Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips, Spoon, Sleater-Kinney), the Providence-bred four-piece spent months working on demos in a perpetually flooded warehouse space in their hometown, enduring the busted heating system and massive holes in the roof as they carved out the album’s 10 raggedly eloquent tracks. Emotional Contracts fully echoes the unruly energy of its creation, ultimately making for a heavy-hearted yet wildly life-affirming portrait of growing older without losing heart.”
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
Milwaukee Night Market @ Wisconsin Avenue, between 2nd and Vel R. Phillips
“The Milwaukee Night Market is a free, outdoor event showcasing a variety of local vendors, performers, and artists. The Milwaukee Night Market transforms the heart of downtown into an exciting fusion of all the city has to offer.” And this is the last one of the season! Be there!
Bizhiki @ Vivarium
“Bizhiki: Unbound is an expansive multidisciplinary music and video performance; a collaboration between a group of singers and musicians around contemporary Ojibwe culture. A wholly made-in-Wisconsin project, Bizhiki: Unbound is a collaboration between Dylan Bizhikiins Jennings (Bad River Ojibwe), Joe Rainey (Red Lake Ojibwe), and multi-instrumentalist S. Carey.”
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
Rise & Thrive Benefit Concert: Chris Porterfield (Field Report) + Darren Garvey @ The Cooperage
“We are thrilled to partner with singer/songwriter Chris Porterfield of Milwaukee’s Field Report for our 2024 Rise & Thrive Artist Residency where he collaborated with five survivor-writers who created poems that explore their experiences of joy, resilience, and renewal in the aftermath of sexual trauma. From intimate conversations and close readings, Porterfield created original music in response to and inspired by their poetry, implementing their words as lyrics, and composing melodies and arrangements that best hold and honor those words and voices. LOTUS Legal Clinic is hosting this benefit concert to celebrate the release of the new album, Trust In Movements Made by Field Report and the fruits of the residency, and to raise funds for future direct services for survivors.”
Ben Mulwana + Sirsy @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
“Ben Mulwana is a Ugandan-born and raised artist residing in Wisconsin. With songs about love, loss, and everything in between. Ben’s band project Ben Mulwana And The Village is made of a groovy, rock, and soulful sound from a group of amazing musicians.”
Fake Twin + Carbon Decoy, Zang! @ Cactus Club
Edelweiss Concert Cruise Series: 11 One Louder @ Milwaukee River, 205 W. Highland Ave.
Third Space Presents: Horace Green @ Third Space Brewing
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
China Lights @ Boerner Botanical Gardens (through October 27)
“Join us at China Lights 2024 to celebrate Year of the Dragon with more than 40 larger-than-life light displays! The Dragon King, flower tunnel, and zodiac lanterns are just some of the highlights of this year’s event. Visitors will see something different at every turn as they walk through the garden at night. We’re excited for you to see our expanded interactive playground area for even more photo opportunities in 2024!”
Emmitt James + Genesis Renji (double record release), *aya, Mocity @ Vivarium
“House of Renji Presents ‘It’s Giving Em & Gen,’ a double album release celebrating new bodys of work by both Emmitt James and Genesis Renji. James will be performing songs from his new album It’s Giving Healed Black Man and Renji will be performing songs from his new album A Shot of Gen 4 (ASOG4). The evening will kick off with guest sets by *aya and Mocity. Be sure to get your tickets and experience it live!”
HYFIN’s Latest & Greatest: NilexNile + Blax, Protegé @ Radio Milwaukee
“HYFIN, a Black-led media movement from Radio Milwaukee, presents its highly anticipated September edition of Latest & Greatest. The event, designed to spotlight and support musicians across Wisconsin, emphasizes local artists. This month’s lineup features a diverse Milwaukee talent, including NilexNile, Blax, and Protegé. DJ Snack Daddy will provide musical accompaniment throughout the evening.”
Frank Caliendo @ Milwaukee Improv (also September 14)
Not unlike an American Idol favorite or a late night talk show host, Frank Caliendo’s career is dependent on the work of other, usually more famous, people. As far as this specific comic crevice is concerned, Caliendo is the Kelly Clarkson of celebrity impersonations and the Johnny Carson of pop-culture mimicry. He returns to his native region for four shows, September 13-14.
MELT: The Demix + Black Lines Din Sky, Cathedral Becomes Tomb, XEXYZ @ Club Garibaldi
Visual Learner + Julia Blair, Chi Chi’s Restaurant @ Bremen Cafe
The Canvasmen + Pay The Devil, Jason Voorhees Plays Stride Piano @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
Near West Fest @ Davidson Park
Dead Man’s Carnival @ Miramar Theatre
Friday Night Retro Dance Party: DJ Don Black @ Mad Planet
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
Charly Bliss + Raffaella @ X-Ray Arcade
“Charly Bliss wants their new album Forever to crush you under the weight of pure feeling. The NYC and Australia-based quartet want to sweep you up in a hurricane of heartbreak. They want you to pour your soul out singing along at their shows and alone in your bedroom. In short, says singer Eva Hendricks, they want to fucking destroy you…but in a fun way. Forever is full of the band’s biggest, brightest batch of power pop yet. From the jittery first notes of the album opener ‘Tragic’ until the closing number fades out, Forever grabs you by the heart and doesn’t let go.”
Live + Stone Temple Pilots, Soul Asylum @ American Family Insurance Amphitheater
“The multi-platinum selling bands join forces to celebrate the 30th anniversary of two of the most beloved albums of the ’90s, +LIVE+ Throwing Copper, and Stone Temple Pilots Purple. Fans of the iconic bands can expect a night of hit songs from those albums and much more, with a full set of music by each group spanning generations.”
Hello, Face (record release) + Redshift Headlights @ Club Garibaldi
Hello, Face’s Milwaukee-music-scene pedigree couldn’t be more impeccable. Members have done time in bands like Carolina, Maritime, The Championship, and The Benjamins. Singer-songwriter Bobby Flowers assembled the supergroup in 2017; occasional shows and a lone single followed. Now, a full seven years later, the band has released its long-in-the-works full-length debut. Why The Long Phase?—out now via Good Land Records—rings with sparkling alt-rock guitars, earnest and effortless melodies, and a hard-won sense of bleary-eyed optimism.
In The Round: Sarah Morris + Molly Maher, Dandy Freiling, Derek Pritzl @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
Milwaukee miniFEST @ Shank Hall
Buena Vista Social Orchestra @ The Pabst Theater
Milwaukee Taco Fest @ Henry Maier Festival Park
5th Annual Shorewood Feast @ 4200-4400 N. Oakland Ave.
Y2K! All 2000s Dance Party!!! @ Mad Planet
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
Milwaukee Record Halftime Series: Wire And Nail @ Cactus Club
How ’bout that Brazil game, huh? Ugh. Well, the Packers’ season continues this week, with or without Jordan Love. And so does our Cactus Club Halftime Series, where local musicians play quick 15-minute sets during halftime. So come on out, enjoy the game, enjoy the music (this week: Wire And Nail!), and [fingers crossed] Go Pack Go!
Argren Faire @ Black Husky Brewing
“Riverwest Ren Faire based on Spirit Song Saga based in the mythical World of Argren. Vendors, fantasy authors, cos-players, performers and all manner of quizzical folks welcome! Events include a medieval drag parade, Deeplight LARP combat ring, Feats of Strength, a beer brewed for the event, food vendors, vendors and more!”
Taco Moto 10 Year Anniversary @ Boone & Crockett
“Mark it dude!! The 10 year Taco Moto anniversary is finally here! Please come down to the Boone & Crockett patio and have an end of summer party with us !! The night will be filled with music from The Delta Routine and Frank Hurricane, laughs, booze, vendors, and tons of fun as to be expected from this crew!! Hope to see you all there. Also Packer game at noon so feel free to come early and then stay all night!!!!!”
Oh Geeez, Not Again (record release) + 5pm To Nowhere, Luke Frees @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
“Join Oh Geeez, Not Again to celebrate the release of their new album MAPMAKER! The band will take the stage at Milwaukee’s Anodyne Coffee on September 15 for their first-ever headlining show, along with special guests Luke Frees and 5pm To Nowhere. Attendees will be among the first to new songs, AND will get to star in an upcoming music video filmed live at the show! Come dressed for an expedition! Music starts at 6:30pm – doors at 5:30.”
Milwaukee Makers Market @ Discovery World
Crossroads Collective Flea Market @ Crossroads Collective
Cafe Sopra Mare: Toco Rio @ Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum
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